Station South, Manchester – Station South Community Interest Company

Where is the project located
Station South, 975-977 Stockport Rd, Levenshulme, Manchester M19 3NP
 
Who is the developer/client of the project? 
Station South Community Interest Company

Station South is a destination cycle café-bar, bike workshop in Levenshulme, Manchester that also incorporates flexible public space for co-working, retail and events as well as an urban garden. 

Levenshulme is a dynamic, densely populated suburb of south Manchester, with a diverse and active community. It’s an urban village with a strong sense of community and a history of activism and engagement.

The project is led by social entrepreneurs, Station South CIC, who wanted to see the restoration of the dilapidated Victorian railway station; Levenshulme South.

Since forming the CIC in 2017, we’ve undertaken extensive public engagement (think: online, focus groups, art, practical action and good old fashioned face-to-face conversations) to gauge interest in the project, to understand exactly how it can best serve the community and to develop our initial idea into something specific and achievable. This was key to defining the scope of the project and informing our all-important business case.

The vacant station straddles the Fallowfield Loop – a former railway line and now one of Britain’s longest urban cycleways – which passes beneath the building. The Loop represents a crucial green lung in Levenshulme and across south Manchester. First established in 2001 after successful campaigning by a group of local cyclists, the Loop promotes active travel and provides an important opportunity for residents in Levenshulme and beyond to get away from Manchester’s busy roads.

With its bike repair shop and welcoming community hub, Station South is helping to encourage more people onto their bikes.
 
Describe the intervention you’ve made including its purpose and motivation, as well as its viability or business case. 

We wanted to see Levenshulme South Station restored and used as a different kind of transport hub: promoting active travel in the community for the benefit of everyone, whilst also preserving and celebrating an important part of Manchester’s rich railway heritage. 

Whilst not statutorily listed, we knew the building held local historic significance. So, armed with a passion for serving our community, a conviction about the importance of active travel and an appreciation for the historic built environment, we engaged meaningfully with the landlord to convince them that the building had a bright future and to find a collaborator to help restore it.

This kick-started a four-year restoration project to retain the original building, restore its Victorian splendour and adapt it to be fit for purpose in the 21st century.

After preparing a robust business case, we successfully agreed £100,000 of funding from Railway Paths Ltd for the initial building works matched by £100,000 of support from the Railway Heritage Trust.

But the project needed more than financial support. It needed the whole community on board.

We gained the support of key stakeholders in the area including Levenshulme Market, Friends of Levenshulme Station and Friends of the Fallowfield Loop.

Local councillors pledged their support as did MP Afzal Khan.

Manchester City Council’s Regeneration Team supported us with an initial Neighbourhood Investment Fund grant to help us develop the project.

Plus, 1,161 Station South advocates from the local community contributed to a crowdfunding push which netted the project a further £66,000.
 
How does this project make use of an existing structure, place or building in a creative way? Is it innovative? How will this project continue to evolve or enable future flexibility and adaptation? Have you considered its resilience? 

After the bleak findings from the original building survey, we had to work hard to develop a robust business plan to ensure we had a sustainable business after the restoration. 

The final phase of works was carried out by Station South’s chosen contractor Medlock FRB and other heritage specialist contractors recruited by Railway Paths. These works included:

● Opening up the rear windows to create a viewing platform of the Loop passing beneath.

● Creating accessible entry points to deliver a fully accessible route from the Loop to the building.

● Retaining level access throughout the main building – not an easy feat in this historic building set over split levels.

● Incorporating a dropped service point at the café bar for wheelchair users.

● Restoring original features such as the archway entrance, ceiling and parquet flooring.

● Building a kitchen and flexible community space.

The project will stand the test of time for two reasons. As a flexible space, when new ideas for community uses form, the building can adapt and grow.

But it’s more than that. The extensive community engagement carried out will future-proof it for many years to come because Station South delivers what the community asked for.

Our community engagement included workshops facilitated by landscape architect Elaine Creswell. These helped members of the community to explore their views, with the outcome providing valuable insight into how our hub can support grass-roots groups, particularly encouraging women into cycling and mechanics, and representing women of colour in cycling.

What is the environmental and social impact of the project? Please share evidence or data to support your entry

Station South is the culmination of years of hard work – not just the CIC but the whole community. It’s been a labour of love and its joyous presence is a major boost to Levenshulme’s local community. Even the process itself of community engagement and crowdfunding has had a huge positive social impact and cemented Levenshulme’s strong sense of community. The community has literally invested in this project. 

Our multi-purpose building facilitates a diverse range of activities and services to improve lives – from health, educational and employment needs to environmental benefits.

We offer space for Manchester’s cycle culture to evolve and flourish; where regular folk can be cycling folk if they want to.

We’re committed to increasing cycling confidence and campaigning for safer routes. Our bike repair shop boosts bike maintenance skills for new cyclists and our bike library offers the chance for people to have a go. Station South’s position – right on the Fallowfield Loop (literally) – means that anyone can give it a go without the worry of traffic. It is our hope that we can help shape how people travel in the future and for generations to come.

By creating more local employment and a busier local high street, we’re reducing the need to commute. Our car-share scheme and electric charging points further encourage a change in commuter habits.

We have good coffee, good food, good ethics and good-natured people ready to welcome everyone.

We’re forward-thinking, abundantly social and above all, open for everyone.